Key container



Dec. 23, 1952 NACH'HGALL 2,622,432

KEY CONTAINER Filed June 9, 1950 Milton Nachfl'gal/ INVENTOR.

BY (M 17% Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in containers and more particularly to containers suitable for pocket use and adapted for holding a plurality of keys.

An important object of the invention is to provide a key container whereby the keys are completed enclosed when not in use to prevent injury to the pocket, purse or the like in which the container is carried and providing a slidable catch at one edge of the container to hold the keys enclosed therein and adapted to release the keys for swinging the latter outwardly at one end of the container for insertion in a look.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the sliding catch in retracted position, and

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a case which may be constructed of a suitable commercial plastic, metal or the like and of elongated shape and formed with flat, spaced apart side walls 6 and I.

One end of the case is indicated at 8 and is rounded and the edge of the case at its rounded end 8 is open and one longitudinal edge of the case is also open as indicated at 9 to provide a continuous open edge with the rounded end 8. A sleeve ID is positioned transversely of the case 5 adjacent its rounded end 8 with a flange II at one end of the sleeve and a screw I2 threaded in the opposite end of the sleeve to removably secure the sleeve in position in the case and on which a plurality of keys I3 are swingably mounted for movement into and out of position in the case through the open side edge 9 and open end 8 to project a selected key outwardly at the ends of the case, for insertion in a lock, the keys being completely enclosed in the case when moved inwardly thereof.

The end of the case opposite from the open end 8 is closed by a curved wall I4 to join with the open front edge 9 of the case. The end wall I4 is formed with a longitudinal slot I5 in which a guide pin or rivet I6 is slidable with a head I! on the outer end of the rivet and secured at its inner end to one end of a curved catch I8 which is slidable between the side walls 6 and I at the inside of the end wall I4 for movement longitudinally in the open front edge 9 of the case into and out of position in the path of outward swinging movement of the keys I3.

The free end of catch I8 is formed with an outwardly projecting finger gripping lip I9 which is exposed at the open front edge 9 of the case for gripping the catch to slide the same into a projected position in the front open edge 9 of the case, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, or to slide the same rearwardly into a retracted position behind the end wall [4, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing.

In the operation of the device, when catch I8 is moved into its closed position in the open front edge 9 of the case, the catch overlaps the free end of the keys I3 to thus prevent outward swinging movement of the keys and the keys are then held in an enclosed position in the case. When catch I8 is moved rearwardly behind end wall I4, the swinging movement of the keys is unobstructed and the keys may then be swung outwardly at the open front edge 9 of the case and into an outwardly projected position at the open end edge 9 for insertion in a look.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a key container, an elongated case having opposed side walls united with each other at their rear longitudinal edges, and open at one end and at their front longitudinal edges, means swingably supporting a key in the case for movement into and out of the open front edge, the other end of the case being closed by an arcuate end wall merging with the open front edge, said end wall having a longitudinal slot, a catch slidable along the inner surface of the end wall and movable longitudinally in the open front edge of the case to obstruct outward swinging movement of the key, and a guide pin at one end of the catch slidably positioned in the slot, and a head on said guide pin engaging the exterior surface of the end wall and maintaining the catch in engagement with the inner surface of the end wall.

2. In a key container, an elongated case having opposed side walls united with each other at their rear longitudinal edges, and open at one end and at their front longitudinal edges, means swingably supporting a key in the case for movement into and out of the open front edge, the other end of the case being closed by an arcuate end wall merging with the open front edge, said end wall having a longitudinal slot, a catch slidable along the inner surface of the end wall and movable longitudinally in the open front REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,943,844 Slotnick Jan. 16, 1934 2,235,606 Calhoon Mar. 18, 1941 2,243,008 Johnson May 20, 1941 2,295,123 Mudrich Sept. 8, 1942 2,300,979 Simpkins Nov. 3, 1942 2,418,330 Black Apr. 1, 1947 2,451,056 Berger et al Oct. 12, 1948 

